2016 Playoffs

Round 1, Game 3 Live Blog: Caps at Flyers

Photo: Patrick Smith

The Caps are in Philadelphia for Game Three. After taking a 2-0 series lead at home, the team now has the opportunity to basically put this series out of reach for the Flyers. Only 4 teams in NHL history have ever come from behind and won a series after going down 3 games to none, one being the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers that eventually reached the Stanley Cup Finals.

Tonight we’ll see if Steve Mason can recover from the laser beam that Jason Chimera put past him in Game Two and if the Flyers have learned that Alex Ovechkin is best not left alone.

Crash the Schenn. Liveblog below.

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By Chris Cerullo 8 years ago

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Was There Value in the Caps’ Physicality in Game Two?

Photo by Patrick Smith

The value of hits is a point of contention among hockey analysts. There is little doubt that having more hits than an opponent likely means that the other team had better possession. This may not be exclusive as some teams rely and game plan for being physical and others do not, but the assumption is usually correct. Some have relegated hits to the intangible realm, where there may be some value, but it is unquantifiable for now. Some believe hits to have great value to slow down, frustrate or actually affect the game of an opponent.

Let’s take a look at Game Two to see if there was any effect on Caps’ physicality.

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By Spenser Smallwood 8 years ago

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Photo: Patrick Smith

After winning both home games, the Caps are in Philadelphia tonight to see if they can’t put the Flyers in a stranglehold. It won’t be easy. The Flyers are mightily pissed about games one and two, and they’ve got sentimental reasons not to play like garbage tonight.

The saying goes, “you’re not in trouble until you lose at home.” Here’s rooting for trouble tonight at Wells Fargo center in what is sure to be an emotionally charged game.

Caps lead the series 2-0. Puck drops at 7 PM on CSN-DC.

Team	Record	Possession	PDO	Power Play	Penalty Kill
Washington Capitals	56-18-8	52.0%	101.1	21.9% (5th)	85.2% (2nd)
Philadelphia Flyers	41-27-14	50.1%	100.5	18.9% (11th)	80.5% (20th)

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By Peter Hassett 8 years ago

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How the Caps Have Taken a 2-0 Lead: Round One Snapshot

Photo: Amanda Bowen

The Caps enter Monday’s Game Three with a 2-0 series advantage. The guys in red need to win two of the remaining five games before the Flyers win four. Obviously, we’d all appreciate a quicker victory.

The series so far has been a great example of why this Caps team is so tough to knock off in a seven-game series, and something we hit on repeatedly in the Sunday snapshot throughout the season: Even if a team manages to outplay the Caps at 5-on-5, as the Flyers have done, especially in Game Two, the Caps still have Braden Holtby as well as elite special teams units that can help cover up for games in which the 5-on-5 process is deficient.

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By Patrick Holden 8 years ago

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Breaking Down Jason Chimera’s Game-Winning Snipe

Jason+Chimera+Montreal+Canadiens+v+Washington+ORWe9_5Yad8x

Photo: Patrick McDermott

Early in the second period of Game Two, with his team clinging to a 1-0 advantage, Jason Chimera stepped onto the ice, determined to give his team a two-goal lead. What followed was an impact shift, ending in a no-doubt-about-it goal from the Ice Cheetah, sending Verizon Center into a frenzy.

This snipe was so beautiful that it’s no doubt the most replayed goal from NHL action on Saturday night. On top of the highlight-reel quality of the goal, it also put Chimera in special company among Caps’ playoff goal scorers:

Jason Chimera scored his 6th career playoff GWG, tying Peter Bondra for first place on the #Caps postseason game-winning goals list.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 17, 2016

Let’s take a look at the Xs and Os of the game-winning goal.

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By Patrick Holden 8 years ago

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Braden Holtby is the Wonderwall: Caps beat Flyers 4-1

Chimera-bration!

The pain of the playoffs usually goes like this: the Caps are dominating play but can’t crack the goalie. They do everything right, but they just can’t hit the back of the net.

Game Two was the exact freaking opposite. The Caps were on their heels from the drop, but Flyers goalie Steve Mason wasn’t exactly Halak-like in his crease work. A trio of goals in the first forty made this a solid win, and that curious reversal of fortunes made Saturday night actually kind of pleasant and fun. That’s not the Caps playoff hockey I know, but I could get used to it.

John Carlson scored first, using patience and a couple screens to crack Steve Mason. And crack he did. Mason next allowed a high-fiber softy from Jason Chimera early in the second period. Jakub Voracek narrowed the score by seizing on a loose puck, but Alex Ovechkin got an Ovi shot from the Ovi spot before the second intermission to make it 3-1.

With two minutes and change left in the third, Nick Backstrom got himself on the ledger, zipping a ~~glove~~ stick-side goal on poor Steve Mason. Locker called it “icing on the cake,” which reminds me– we should eat some cake!

Caps beat Flyers 4-1! Caps lead the series 2-0!

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By Peter Hassett 8 years ago

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Round 1, Game 2 Live Blog: Caps vs Flyers

Photo: Patrick Smith

Game Two is upon us. The Caps pulled out a very solid 2-0 victory over the Flyers in Game One, which calmed some nerves for the D.C. area, but I assume those same nerves are back in full force before puck drop tonight. Going up 2 games in the series would be a great start to the playoffs and would put all the pressure on Philadelphia, so another Caps victory would be very sweet.

Tonight we’ll see if there is any retaliation for the rough stuff in Game One and whether or not Brayden Schenn has learned that he’s not going up for a basketball rebound when he’s hitting. Here’s hoping that the Caps stay out of the stupidity and just beat up on Philadelphia by putting multiple pucks behind Steve Mason.

Another playoff liveblog for you below.

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By Chris Cerullo 8 years ago

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Caps vs Flyers Pregame: Will Cooler Heads Prevail?

^ Inevitable

The Caps are off to a rockin’ start against the Flyers. Their 2-0 win on Thursday gave us a lot to smile about. Nate Schmidt, here’s to you.

Now it’s Saturday, and Sean Couturier is out, plus the Flyers have yet to score a goal this series. They’re a feisty team and eager to remedy some of their mistakes from the other night. Caps fans: hold onto your hats and hold onto your hearts.

Puck drop. 7 PM. CSN-DC. It’s gonna be lit.

Team	Record	Possession	PDO	Power Play	Penalty Kill
Washington Capitals	56-18-8	52.0%	101.1	21.9% (5th)	85.2% (2nd)
Philadelphia Flyers	41-27-14	50.1%	100.5	18.9% (11th)	80.5% (20th)

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By Margaret Stuart 8 years ago

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Three Examples of Brayden Schenn Trying to Hurt Caps Players Last Game

Tom Wilson’s punching bag Brayden Schenn has turned himself into one heck of a player. In the regular season, Schenn scored a career-high 26 goals and was the Flyers third-leading scorer (59 points). He also can be a pest and an impressive physical player.

Thursday night at Verizon Center, Schenn focused more on the latter after Alex Ovechkin injured Flyers forward Sean Couturier with a clean open-ice hit.

In my opinion, Schenn crossed the line in delivering several questionable hits late in the game. Was he trying to injure dudes? You tell me.

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By Ian Oland 8 years ago

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Round 1, Game 1 Live Blog: Caps vs Flyers

Photo: Patrick Smith

Gulp.

Today’s the day. The spotlight is on, the bandwagon is full and I already feel like I’m going to throw up. We’re at home for Game One and Game Two and anything but a 2-0 start is going to be a tough pill to swallow for this team.

The Flyers of course want to throw this entire area into a chaotic mess. Claude Giroux and the boys come into Washington looking to steal a game before they head back to Philadelphia. Say your prayers, wear your lucky socks, grab a seat and be ready to get on a ride that will only end two ways.

First liveblog of the playoffs below.

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By Chris Cerullo 8 years ago

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